Behind the Covers

Billy Joel

1 album cover in our archive

Billy Joel is featured in Behind the Covers' archive with 1 album cover from the 1970s. Released on Columbia Records, the artwork sits in the rock tradition. Each cover is documented in our archive with design notes covering portrait, painting, photorealistic, iconic. Below you'll find the full story behind each Billy Joel cover — designers, photographers, label history, and the visual choices that defined the release.

Piano Man by Billy Joel — album cover art

Piano Man (1973)

The haunting cover of Piano Man features what many assumed were manipulated photographs but are actually photorealistic acrylic paintings by Bill Imhoff, one of Columbia Records' go-to album artists. The front and back cover paintings were originally gifted to Joel's manager before eventually being sold.

Label
Columbia Records
Designer
Beverly Parker
Genre
Rock
Decade
1970s
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